Printing character forming wires



Oct. 3, 1950 R. B. JOHNSON 2,524,127

PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Filed Nov. 6, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m/4510mm BY it Q MA 3 ATTO R N EY Oct. 3, 1950 R. B. JOHNSON PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 6, 1946 Q Q Q g Q Q Q Q Q Q IQ Q h I k w \w QRE nu IQ T wg NS QQQ Oct. 3, 1950 R. B. JOHNSON 2,524,127

PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Filed Nov. 6, 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q 0 Q Q -r Q Q \1 O I N BY 1 I IIIIT W DNNO N ATTORNEY R. B. JOHNSON PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Oct. 3, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1946- Q T M /W2 d/ -39? M k w My ATTORNEY R. B. JOHNSON PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Oct. 3, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 HPudi Q U M a #3 0.0.1.... .0. O0.

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PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING wmss Filed Nov. 6, 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 lily/1111111111 I lilil INVENTOR fieyaoZabl/anso/z Mm w ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1953 R. B. JOHNSON 2,524,127

PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Filed Nov. 6, 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR BY 1 Z ATTORNEY INVENTOR fiey/z'ofa i/oxzso/z W. 5 ATTORNEY- 11 Sheets-5heet 10 R B JOHNSON PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES Oct. 3, 1950 Filed Nov. 6, 1946 I i E l E INVENTOR fey/102a 5 Jab/750a BY E g ATTORNEY l1 Sheets-Sheet 11 R. B. JOHNSON PRINTING CHARACTER FORMING WIRES EFGHIJKLMNOPQDASTUVWX Z 4r 5 Oct. 3, 1950 Filed Nov. s, 1946 Patented a. a, 1950 2,524,127 PRINTING CHA RACTER FORMING WIRES Reynold B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. 'Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application November 6, 1946, Serial No. 708,163

13 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to printing machines in which characters are formed by selectively actuating character forming wires whose ends directly i'orm the characters.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel selecting and operating mechanism for a so-called wire printer composed of relatively few parts and which is not expensive and can be manufactured very easily.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a single selecting and actuating element cooperating with the ends of a group of printing wires arranged so that selective displacement of the element in a plane parallel to the wire ends will select a character forming pattern, and movement of the element against the wire ends will actuate the selected wires to print the character selected.

A further object of the invention resides in the 20 provision of record punching devices and selecting mechanism therefor to select combinations of punches representative of a character, in which the punches are arranged so that upon their operation they will adjust the print selecting and actuating element in accordance with the character punched, whereby there will be a concurrent punching and printing of a selected character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact mechanism wherein the moving parts are operative within short limits of movement for printing any of a number of alphabetic, numeric or special characters at high speed.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is an assembly showing the relative location ofthe printing and punching devices and the selecting devices therefor.

Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1 showing the magnetic operators for the punch selection.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged assembly looking in the same direction as Fig. 1 showing the printing wires and their relation to the punches.

Fig. 4 is a plan section'taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the punch operated slides for controlling the print selector.

Fig. 5 is a time chart oi the drive devices.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the principles embodied in the mechanism for eifectlng the print selection.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged isometric view of three punches and the slide operating mechanism controlled thereby.

Fig. 8 is a chart showing the various characters that may be selectively printed by the apparatus of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a card showing the manner in which the several characters are punched and printed by the apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on lines Ill-l0 of Fig. 1, showing the punch selecting and operating mechanism.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detafl of one of the punch actuated slide operators.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on lines l2|2 of Fig. 1, showing the print operating mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a detail of the print operating devices in an operating position.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on lines ll-Il of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged tace view of the print wire selecting and actuating plate.

Fig. 16 is a perspective showing the relation between the printing plate, the printing wires and the punches.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of a corner 01' the printing plate and one of the print wires.

Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuits for controlling the operation oi the apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 10, the apparatus comprises a base I0 and an upper section II, which are spaced apart to enable the passage oi. a record card I! or other record receiving material therebetween. Supported in the upper section II is a row of twelve punches l3 cooperable with suitable die openings it in the base l0, and in line therewith is a group of wires 15 arranged with the ends thereof disposed in a rectangle five wires in width and seven wires in length. Between the wire ends and card I! is an ink ribbon represented at l6.

The particular manner in which the card is supported and positioned beneath the punches and wires forms no part of the present invention, so that such mechanism is not illustrated, and it will suiiice to state that the card is inserted in the position shown in Fig. 3 to receive punching and printing in a selected column thereof, and then manually shifted to present another parallel column for punching and printing in such other column.

With the card positioned as stated, the punches l3 will be operated to punch single or multiple holes I! ("see Fig. 9) representative of the character appearing across the top of the card and, as the punches operate, they will cause selective movement of wires I to print a pattern of the character. corresponding to the hole or combination of holes punched. These wire patterns are separately shown in Fig. 8. It is to be noted that, with the wire ends in contacting engagement with one another, the patterns are printed as tangential dots in parts of their outline, and due to the tendency of the ink pressed from the ribbon to spread slightly these portions of the outline will have the appearance of a continuous line.

Punching mechanism The devices for selecting and operating the punches will first be described, and thereafter it will be explained how the punches effect selection of the printing wires to effect printing of the character corresponding to the hole or holes punched.

Referring to Fig. 10, each of the punches I3 is o! the forty-seven possible characters, and each key upon operation will close one or a plurality of contacts 33 which will complete a circuit or circuits from the positive side of the current source and wire 34 to the magnet or magnets 28 representing the character selected. For exainple, if the A key 32 is depressed, it closes its two contacts 33 to complete parallel circuits from wire 34 to the 12 and 1 wires 3| and the 12 and i magnets 28 to wire 30. This results in shifting the related interposers 23 so that the bell cranks 20 of the 12 and l punches l3 will be coupled to the punch bar IQ for operation thereby. The other character and symbol combinations can be similarly traced for each of the other keys.

Referring to Fig. 10, when bell crank 20 is in the position shown, it engages a contact blade 35 to hold it in the position shown and, when the bell crank is rocked counterclockwise, blade 35 will pivot under its own resiliency to close a pair of contacts 38. There is a blade 35 for each of the bell cranks, and these are represented in Fig. 18 connected to a wire 31, extending to a clutch magnet 38. One side of each pair of contacts 35 is carried by a common bar 39 connected to wire 34 so that, when any one or any multiple of bell integral with a stem l8 guided for vertical reciprocation and notched to straddle an operating bar l9. Pivoted to each stem I8 is a bell crank 20 biased counterclockwise by a spring 21. The horizontal arm 22 of the bell crank normally lies under an edge of an interposer 23 (see Fig. l) which holds the bell crank in the position shown in Fig. 10.

When any interposer 23 is drawn to the right.

as viewed in Fig. 1, it will release its related arm 22 whereupon spring 2| will rock the bell crank 28 into the position shown in Fi '7, where the hooked end 24 thereof lies beneath bar l9.

Each inter oser 23 has integral therewith a rod 25 whose lower end is flattened and provided with an openin into which the free end of an arma ture 26 extends (Fig. 2). The armature is integral with a leaf spring 21 so that, when magnet 28 (of which there are twelve arranged in a cornpact formation) is energized, armature 26 is attracted and will draw its related rod 25 and interposer 23 to the right as viewed in Fig. l to release arm 22. Upon deenergization of the magnet. spring 21 will rock the armature 25 and connected parts back to their initial ositions. The up er extremities of interposers 23 abut against rollers 29 provided to facilitate the sliding action by lessening frictional resistance.

The punches l3 and their stems it are numbered 12, 11, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to represent the vertical card positions (see Fig. 9) with which they cooperate, and the controlling magnets 28 are similarly numbered in the circuit diagram (Fig. 18) The twelve magnets are connected through a wire 30 to negative side of a suitable current source, and each is also connected to a wire 3| numbered to correspond to related magnets.

A plurality of keys 32 is provided, one for each cranks 20 is or are rocked, contacts 36 complete a circuit to energize clutch magnet 38 which will cause the punch bar [9 to be reciprocated as fol-- lows. Motor 40 runs constantly and drives a clutch driving element 4| adjacent to which is a disk 42 carryin a spring pressed dog 43. Energization of magnet 38 will attract its armature latch 44 releasing dog 43 for engagement in the driving notch of element 4|, whereby disk 42 will be driven for one revolution during which magnet 38 is deenergized to return armature-44 to releasing position. The parts just described represent diagrammatically a well known so-called one revolution clutch.

Integral with disk 42 is a gear 45 driving a gear 46 on shaft 41 at a 5 to 1 ratio so that for each revolution of disk 42 shaft 41 makes a fifth of a revolution. This shaft as shown in Fig. 10 has a pair of five-lobe complementary cam's 48 secured thereto cooperating with a rocker arm 50 pivoted at 5!. Arm 5!! is articulated to a verticalrod 52 (Figs. 1, 3 and 10) whose upper end is connected to punch bar Ill. The bar 19 has pins'53 at opposite ends extending to a pair of hell cranks 54 pivoted to the framework at 55 and connected together by a link 56. Thus, when rod 52 is reciprocated, the parallel motion device 54, 56 will cause the bar I!) to move down and draw with it the punches whose hooks 24 have been rocked. The operation of the keys 32 is momentary so that during the down stroke of bar IS the magnets 28 become deenergized and interposers 23 slide back into position. When the bar 19 returns upwardly, positively retracting the punches, arm 22 will engage the restored interposer and bell crank 20 will be be rocked back to its unhooked position of Fig. 10, incidentally rocking blade 35 to open contacts 36, so that clutch magnet 33 is deenergized before the completion of the cycle.-

Operation of the selecting slides Th upper end of each punch stem I 8 is of a reduced diameter, providing a shoulder 68 (Figs. 10, 11 and 7) upon which a block 6| slidable on the stem normally rests. A spring 62 bears against a collar 63 secured to the upper end of 5 stem l8 and against the top of block 6| to urge it against shoulder 68. With such construction, the block 6| reciprocates with the punch I8 with stem [8 being drawn downwardly through spring 62 and returned upwardl by shoulder 68.

Block 6| has laterallyextending flanges 64 between which a stationary bar 65 extends on one side and a stationary bar 66 extends on the opposite side. These bars are supported through spacing rivets 88 (Fig. 11) by the main side plates 61 and are dimensioned so as not to interfere with the reciprocation of the blocks 6|.

Each block 6| has an interposer 10 (Figs. 3 and 'l) positioned between flanges 64 on one side or the other and disposed in the space between bar 65 and plate 61 or bar 66 and opposite plate 61, so that as the block is reciprocated its related interposer also moves up and down in the space between bar and plate. The interposer I is freely disposed between the flanges 64, so that it may slide laterally.

Bar 65 and its related plate 61 are each provided with a pair of oppositely facing channels into which rollers 12 extend. Bar 66 and its related plate 11 are similarly channeled to receiverollers 13. These rollers ar fre to shift laterally in the channels.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, rollers 12 farthest to the right abut against a fixed stop 14 and the one farthest to the left abuts a slide 15. In line with this slide (Fig. 1) is a short slide 16 urged by spring 11 against a lever 18 between the two slides, so that the pressure exerted by spring 11 urges all the rollers 13 and interposers at the forward side of the blocks 6| toward the right as shown in Fig. 3. On the opposite side of blocks 6| there is a similar arrangement (see Fig. 4) ineluding a fixed stop 19, slides 88, 8|, lever 82 and actuating spring 83. r

In Fig. 6the two sets of opposite rollers 12, I3 and related interposers are shown diagrammatically, one above the other, with numbered dotted lines indicating the related punches. Thus, the 12, 11, 0 and 4 punches, when operated, each move down a single interposer of the forward or lower set. The 1, 2, 3, 4 and punches when operated each move down a single interposer of the rear or upper set. The 6, 7 and 9 punches when operated each move down a pair of interposers, one in each set.

The several interposers have variously configured vertical camming edges, some of which when the interposer is moved down will increase the space between adjacent rollers and shift slides 15 and 88 to the left. Others will decrease this distance so that slides 15 and 88 move to the right under the influence of their springs Ti and 83 respectively. Slide 15 may move one, two or three steps to the right and one, two, three or four steps to the left as indicated by the scale, while slide 88 may move one or two steps to the right and one, two or three steps to the left. The several interposers are marked +1, +2, +3, +4 to indicate that, when one of these is depressed, it will shift its slide one, two, three or four steps to the left. Those marked 1, 2 and 3 will permit their slides to shift one, two or three steps to the right. Thus, if the 12 punch is operated, the left hand interposer in the lower row is depressed to bring its portion of least width into alignment with the rollers 12, decreasing the spacing and allowing slide 15 to shift one step tothe right.

In the following table are listed separately for each possible character the punching com- Character- Punches Blide 75 Slide In the foregoing manner, the punching of each character hole or combination of holes will be accompanied by a differential positioning of slides I5 and 88 in either a leftward or rightward direction.

In Fig. 1, the slide 15 will position lever 18 to rock a rod 85, which as best shown in Fig. 16 has a pair of arms 86 engaging in notches 81 of a plate 88, so that the plate 88 is positioned up or down accordingly as slide 15 is right or left.

The slide 88 (Fig. 4) will position lever 82 about its pivot 88 (see Fig. 16) and rock an integral finger 88 engaging in a notch 9| of plate 88, so that the plate is positioned forward or rearward accordingly as slide 80 is positioned left or right. Thus, for each of the forty-seven possible characters, the plate 88 will be adjusted in forty-seven difierent positions.

Printin wire selection In Fig. 3 the wires |5, of which there are thirtylive as stated, extend through tubes 92 anchored in a member 93 and a plate 94. Fig; 16 shows the direction in which the wires are spread to form a rectangle 'at their left ends across the face of plate 88. The portion of the wires to the right of member 83 extend through openings in the base II which serves to hold the, lower ends in compactjuxtaposition. At the upper end, each wire (see Fig. 17) has crimped thereon a collar engaged by a spring 96 which serves to hold the wire retracted as shown, with fixed plate 81 serving as a limit stop.

Integral with plate 88 is a metallic sheet 98 etched with a pattern of high and low portions. The surface of this plate appears as shown in Fig. 15 at a, greatly enlarged scale, and in this figure the wires II are indicated by sectional circles in the relative relationship before the plate 88 is positioned by the punching devices. As explained, the plate ma be positioned up or down and to the right or left with respect to the wires, and these movements are so proportioned that each wire will cooperate with any one of forty-seven squares surrounding the square it initially confronts.

After the plate is positioned, it is pressed toward the wires and, whenever a high portion of sheet 98 is in line with a wire, such wire will be actuated to print-a mark on the record. Fig. 1'7 shows the arrangement for the wire I5 in the upper left hand corner, from which it is seen that this wire is used in printing of the characters H, F, R, P, Z, X, W, 2, D, A, B, E. L, K and N. It will be noted also in Fig. 16 that this wire I5 prints the lower left hand corner of these characters, andit will be noted in Fig. 8 that each of the characters listed above has a dot in the extreme lower left hand corner.

To take a specific example, such as the letter A, when the 12 and l punches operate, plate 80 is shifted one step up and one step to the left which will bring all the raised portions marked A into line with the wires forming the pattern for this letter. In Fig. 15 these are the six uppermost wires in the left hand column and in the right hand column the three central wires in the bottom row. All other wires will be opposite low portions, so that their wires are not effectively actuated.

From Fig. 6 it can readily be determined for each character, in which direction and to what extent plate 88 is shifted. Thus, for example, the letter B punched as a 12 and 2 hole shifts plate 88 one step up and two steps to the left. Looking at Fig. 15, one step up and two steps to the left bring all squares marked B into alignment with the wires to form the pattern of this character.

Wire actuating mechanism Referring to Figs. 3, 13 and 14, the-plate 08 has adjacent thereto a plate I provided with cam surfaces IN. The plate I00 is notched to straddle fixed blocks I02 so that it may move toward and away from plate 88 but is constrained against vertical movement. Spring pressed plungers I03 (Fig. 3) normally bear against plate 88 to hold it in the position of Fig. 3 away from the wire ends, and as the plate 88 is differentially positioned by the punches it will slide across the face of plate I00.

To the left of plate I00 is a stationary memsurfaces IN and I08 Isa frame I08 notched to receive a pair of rods I01 carrying rollers I08.

' This frame rides in notches in blocks I02, so that it can move vertically but not. horizontally (as viewed in Fig. 13). Upon elevating the frame, rollers I08 will ride along cams I and shift rightward in their notches, at the same time forcing cams III to the right along with plates I00 and 80 to effect printing action. Upon reher I04 with cam surfaces I05. Between caml traction of the frame, plungers I00 return the parts to normal position.

Frame I00 has integral therewith a rod I00 extending through a fixed guide IIII. Pinned to the rod is a. cup III within which there is a spring II2. Surrounding cup III is a sleeve II8 loose on the rod and containing a spring Ill.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 1. cup I II is grooved to receive a pin inlever [I5 which is connected 8 by rod H5 toa lever III pivoted at II8 (Fig. 12).

The free end of this lever has a surface I20 in line with pins I2I carried by disks I22 on shaft 41. In the position of Fig. 12 a pin I2I- is holding lever III, and through the connections traced cup III is held in the position of Fig. 12 against the action of spring I,

Sleeve I I3 is similarly grooved to receive a pin in lever I23 (Figs. 1 and 12) which is connected by a rod I24 to a lever I25 pivoted at H8. The free end of this lever is in line with pins I25 carried by disks I22. In t e position of Fig. 12 a pin I28 has rocked lever, I25 a slight amount to hold sleeve II 4 in the osition shown, where it compresses spring H3 small amount.

The position of the rts in Fig. 12 is that during the rest position of the apparatus and as explained, when a key selection is made, shaft 01 is turned through a fifth of a. revolution. Fig. 5 shows the relative movements during this fifth revolution of the punch bar IS, the frame I06 and the sleeve H8. Thus, as the bar I9 moves to force the punch or punches through the card from 0 to 25, pin I20 (Fig. 12) rocks lever I25 counterclockwise to elevate sleeve H3 and compress spring II3 still further. Up until about 20, cup

III remains locked so that at such point it is under considerable pressure. At 20 roller I2I rides of! surface I 20 freeing cup I I I, so that spring I I3 now released will urge cup III and frame I05 rapidly upward to effect printing in the interval between 20 and 25". This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 13 where a bumper disk I28 limits the extent of upward movement of stem I09.

At 25 both levers I I1 and I25 are free of their actin pins I2I and I 25, respectively, so that spring H2 in cup III will move both cup III and sleeve II3 through spring II downwardly and near the end of the fifth of a revolution the next pin I2I will engage and lock lever II! and cup II I, while the next pin I26 moves bar I25 and sleeve H3 to effect the slight initial compression of spring Ill.

When it is desired to punch without the accompanying printing, a hook I30 (Fig. 1) may be rocked counterclockwise manually or through action of magnet I3I to engage pins in the ends of levers H5 and I23 to lock them in the position shown in Fig. 1. In such position it will be noted that lever III is held out of cooperative relationship with pins I2I and lever I25 is also held out of eflective range of pins I28'so that, when shaft I 41 turns, the levers will remain substantially as in Fig. 1. Although the print plate 88 takes a character selecting position, it will not be shifted against the wires.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. Printing mechanism including a multiplicity of spaced printing elements, a plurality of actuating elements cooperative therewith for moving said printing elements to marking position, said jacent printing elements, means for moving the actuatin elements to any of said positions, in each of which it is adapted to select a different predetermined number and arrangement of printing elements for actuation, and means for actuating the actuating elements to cause printing by the selected printing elements.

2. Printing mechanism comprising in combination, a multiplicity of spaced printing elements, a single character determining means settable in a number of different positions with respect to said printing elements to select a difierent predetermined character representing arrangement of printing elements for each different position, the diiferent positions being spaced apart a lesser distance than the spacing of the printing elements, and means including said setta-ble means for actuating the selected printing elements to print the selected character.

3. Recording mechanism comprising in combination, a plurality of spaced wire rods guided for movement in the direction of their length and having an end of each lying in a common plane, a striker plate disposed in a plane adjacent to said common plane and having actuating elements thereon arranged so that positioning of the striker plate in its plane will align the actuating elements with rods combinationally representing a difierent character for each plate position, means for selectively positioning the plate, the extent of movement of the plate to each position being less than the spacing between adjacent rods, and means for moving the plate toward the rods to actuate the ones aligned with actuating elements for recording the selected character.

4. In a printing machine having a plurality of printing wires whose ends lie in a common plane and are spaced within a predetermined area, the combination therewith ofan actuating plate lying in a plane adjacent the wire ends and divided into sectional areas, one adjacent to the end of each wire, each sectional area being divided into a plurality of corresponding sub-areas, means for moving said plate in its plane to concurrently align all corresponding selected sub-areas with their related wires, and means for moving the plate against the wires, said sub-areas being configured to cause operation of selected wires to print a character corresponding to the sub-area selected when the plate is moved against the wires.

5. In a printing'machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires arranged in a rectangular pattern with the wire ends spaced in a common plane, a device for actuating said wires in accordance with a character pattern, comprising a striker plate located adjacent to the wire ends and having groups of actuating elements, one group for each wire, means for positioning said device to bring corresponding selected actuating elements of each group into alignment with its related wire to select a character arrangement of wires for printing, and means for actuating said device when in character selecting position.

6. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires arranged in armtangular pattern with the wire ends spaced in a common plane, a device for actuating said wires in accordance with a character pattern, comprising a striker plate located adjacent to the wire ends and having groups of actuating elements; one group for each wire, means for efiecting relative movement between said device and said wire select a character arrangement of wires for printing, and means for causingv relative movement of the plate and wires toward one another to actuate selected wires.

'7. Printing mechanism comprising in combination, a, multiplicity of spaced printing elements, a single character determining means comprising a plate having actuating elements thereon, means for effecting difierent relative positioning of said printing elements and said determining means to align the actuating elements in a manner to select a different predetermined character representing arrangemen of printing elements for each different relati positioning, the di erent positionings varyin in extent a lesser di tance than the spacing f the printing elements, and means including said determining means for actuting the selected printing elements to print the elected character.

8. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires terminating at one end in a common plane wherein the wire ends are spaced apart and terminating at the opposite end in a common plane forming an angle with the first plane, and wherein the wire ends are in contacting proximity to one another, guide means for the wires intermediate their ends, and means comprising a striker plate for engaging the spaced ends to effect printing of the contacting ends, said plate having actuating elements thereon 'positionable with respect to the spaced ends to select various character printing arrangements of wires.

9. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires, having spaced ends lying in a common plane, a striker plate cooperable with the said ends and having an actuator of like area in cooperating relationship with each wire to select character patterns for printing, a plurality of keys, one for each possible character pattern, means controlled by each key for efiecting relative movement between said plate and said wire ends an extent less than-the distance between any two spaced ends to bring different parts of each area adjacent to the related wire to select the character pattern corresponding to the key.

10. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires, having spaced ends lying in a common vertical plane, a striker plate adjacent to said ends and positionable vertically and horizontally in a plane parallel to the said common plane, said plate having a section of like area in cooperating relationship with each wire end, means for moving the plate differential amounts, in both planes with the total distance moved in either direction being less than the distance between adjacent spaced ends, said areas being configured to select a difierent character pattern for each possible different position.

11. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires having spaced ends lying in a common plane, a striker plate lying in a plane parallel and adjacent to said ends and having a section of like area in cooperating relationship with each wire end, means for moving the plate differential amounts in its plane to bring different parts of each area adjacent to the related wire, said areas being configured to select a different character pattern for each different part.

12. In a printing machine of the class described, a plurality of printing wires having spaced ends lying in a common plane, each end having adjaends to align corresponding selected actuating cent thereto a section of a striker plate having active and inactive areas thereon arranged in a number of positions corresponding to the number of characters that may be printed, said section being shiftable to present any area thereof to the end of its related wire whereby the related printing-wire will be actuated only by active areas.

13. In a printing device of the class described, a group 01' printing wires having their ends lying in a common plane, an actuating plate extending across said ends, said plate having a plurality of sets of actuating elements thereon, each set arranged in the configuration of a character to be printed, the elements of the several sets being interspersed, means for selectively positioning the plate to bring any set of elements into actuating position with respect to the wire ends, and means for moving the plate against the wires when in a character selecting position.

. REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.

12 summons crrsn The following references are of record in the file 01' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,028,037 Lilleberg May 28, 1912 1,489,015 Sherman Apr. 1, 1924 2,046,082 Mills June 30, 1936 2,064,340 Davis Dec. 15, 1936 2,129,065 Loop Sept. 6, 1938 2,164,696 Buckley July 4, 1939 2,334,534 Ballwee Nov. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 537,343 Great Britain June 18, 1941 

